Ursa Major

[ ur-suh-mey-jer ]

/ ˈɜr sə ˈmeɪ dʒər /

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noun, genitive Ur·sae Ma·jor·is

[ur-see muh-jawr-is, -johr-]. /ˈɜr si məˈdʒɔr ɪs, -ˈdʒoʊr-/. Astronomy.

the Great Bear, the most prominent northern constellation, containing the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

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Origin of Ursa Major

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Words nearby Ursa Major

uropygium, uroscopy, urostyle, Urquhart, Urquhart Castle, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, ursid, Ursids, ursiform, ursine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Ursa Major in a sentence

Ursa Major’s head extends from the top of the ladle and the legs pop off the bottom of the ladle.
The Laid-Back Adventurer’s Guide to Outdoor Skills|awise|August 2, 2021|Outside Online
Even novice stargazers can easily pick out the shape, part of the Ursa Major constellation.
Here’s why humans chose particular groups of stars as constellations|Emily Conover|March 29, 2021|Science News
To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Other major news outlets made the same decision, hiding behind a misplaced sense of multicultural sensitivity.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Iraq may have been an irregular fight, but it had major moments.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is the Mexico that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and most major U.S. corporations, are eager to call amigo.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Those who have watched anti-gay groups closely suggest that there will be two major strategic shifts in their strategy.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage|Tim Mak|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The major-general kept him well informed of every movement of the enemy, and pointed out the dangerous isolation of Davout.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Thereon the major-general took on himself to nominate Prince Eugne as Murat's successor.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Major Abbott and his brother officers, trying to keep their men loyal, stood fast and listened to the distant turmoil in the city.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Frulein Fichtner was the young lady who was going to play his concerto in A major at the concert that evening.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
He was a good judge of men, that eagle-faced major; he knew that the slightest move with hostile intent would mean a smoking gun.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for Ursa Major

Ursa Major

/ (ˈɜːsə ˈmeɪdʒə) /

noun Latin genitive Ursae Majoris (ˈɜːsiː məˈdʒɔːrɪs)

an extensive conspicuous constellation in the N hemisphere, visible north of latitude 40°. The seven brightest stars form the Plough. A line through the two brightest stars points to the Pole Star lying in Ursa MinorAlso called: the Great Bear, the Bear

Word Origin for Ursa Major

Latin: greater bear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for Ursa Major

Ursa Major

[ ûr′sə ]

A constellation in the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere near Draco and Leo. Ursa Major (the Great Bear) contains the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

Cultural definitions for Ursa Major

Ursa Major

[ (ur-suh) ]

A constellation; the Great Bear. (See Big Dipper.)